Cuts to consultation periods are “counterproductive”

The chartered body for health and safety professionals has welcomed a call by parliamentarians to allow adequate time for consultations on Government policy.

Ministers are looking at slashing the time allowed for organisations to comment on some proposed law changes, from 12 weeks to as little as two. The aim is to make the consultation process more productive.

But the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is among prominent organisations to criticise the plan. It would “counterproductive”, said IOSH, because it could stop stakeholders submitting evidence on important proposals on legislation.

Now, a parliamentary watchdog has opposed the Government proposal. In a recently published report, the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee said there was a risk that resulting laws would be less robust because they had been rushed through without the views of experts sought externally.